Erasure by Misa Buckley #mm #gaylit #LGBTLit #scifirom

Title: Erasure
Author: Misa Buckley
Genre: M/M Scifi Romance
Publisher: Self
Available: Amazon $2.99 (Kindle)
Rating: 4 stars
Rater: Pippa 





Blurb:
When Malik Foster crashes back into his life after a three year absence, Damaris wants nothing to do with his ex-lover. Especially once he learns that Malik has cybernetic implants - something made illegal by the Restoration. Dam does not want a Purity Squad beating down his door. Yet neither does he want to leave Malik to their less than tender mercies. He agrees to use his surgical talents to remove the tell-tale tattoo that's been branded on to Malik's wrist. 

As they reignite their past relationship, Dam learns about the life Malik has led since the Restoration came into power. He has to face the fact that his future as a plastic surgeon is increasingly insecure in a city that's becoming ever more obsessed with "natural" bodies. Then the Purity Squads come looking for Malik, and they know an escape is now or never. 

But can there be an escape from a regime that wants to erase anyone not falling into their definition of human?

What I liked.
The world building was concise, summing up a bleak, and scary setting with a quasi-religious group forcing the populous backward in terms of technology. The relationship between the two central characters was taunt and touching, and beautifully played out. I don't think a single word was wasted. The sex scenes were tastefully done (and in detail if you're worried they might have been glossed over), and the inner turmoil of both characters were believable and engaging, without being OTT on the angst.

What I didn't like.
This was only my second m/m story, and I can't say I'm a huge fan - my preference is definitely for m/f or f/f. Having said that, this was a short, snappy and emotionally satisfying read, and I'd come back for more of it. I did feel their escape could/should have been done in more detail.

In conclusion.
If you're a newbie to m/m romance (like me) and/or a newcomer to scifi romance as a genre, this is a great place to start. Tight world building that won't overwhelm even the least technically minded, well done sex scenes, well balanced between the two characters, and emotionally satisfying. Be warned though - this is a short story, not a novella or novel.

Tin Cat by Misa Buckley

Title: Tin Cat
Author: Misa Buckley
Genre: Scifi Romance
Publisher: BURST (Champagne Books, 4th March 2013)
Available: Champagne Books, Amazon UK, Amazon US, Kobo, AllRomance
Rating: 5 stars
Rater: Pippa




From the publisher: A year after the accident that put her in a wheelchair, Amber Gerald has more or less gotten used to living with her impairment. It doesn’t make a difference to running a comic book store anyway, and the customers have been the best support group she could have wished for.
When she rescues an abandoned cat, Amber has no idea that she’s interfering in the mad scheme of a time travelling bank robber. Or that the man that walks into her store dressed like Blade is about to become her bodyguard.
Between being an unwitting owner of an android cat and falling for a cybernetic bounty hunter, Amber finds her life a whole new level of weird as science fiction becomes a very real factual threat.

What I liked:  This story is a real tear jerker that will tug on your heartstrings. A fun premise with great characterisations, a quirky scifi storyline that plays on geekdom, and one that deals well with the social stigma of disability. I've never read anything like it before. The bedroom scenes are hot and yet sweet, underlying the genuine spark between the two MCs. The tension, both romantically and plotwise is good, particularly at the end where you can't imagine there can possibly be a HEA. And the ending might not be quite what you expect.

What I didn’t like: I hate it when people complain that a story is too short when it clearly states short or novella. However, I do slightly begrudge not being able to spend more time with Amber and Gray, simply because I loved them (although once or twice I wanted to slap them both). I do think the story is complete as a novella, and attempting to make it longer would merely have been unecessary padding.

In sum: Tin Cat is a sweet and sexy love story with a geek twist that deals well with the physical disability of the female MC. A story guaranteed to make you feel warm and fuzzy.